Hello everyone! Just wanted to introduce myself. I'm an explorer from Atlanta and also an extremely active vertical caver and member of the Dogwood City Grotto caving club. I usually get out 2 or 3 times a month and rappel into a cave in the TAG region (Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia). I recently got SPRAT(Society of Professional Ropes Access Technicians) certified at Level 1 and plan on doing some work in the Ropes Access industry in the near future. I currently work for a national company that works with non-profits to raise money in exchange for the participants getting to rappel over the edge of a tall building in their city. I'll try to post up some pictures from caving adventures as well as other things asap. Cheers guys!

Dat

Welcome! I envy your proximity to awesome vertical caves

Is your company running this one?

http://www.lungchi...rg/skyline-plunge/

Welcome! It would be cool to spend some time exploring the caves. Out here in Nevada most of our exploring happens in man made caves (mines).

Abby Normal

Howdy man, nice to see you found your way over to our little corner.

There's a great company out there called Rope Partner. They do a lot of work in the wind turbine industry and others as well; stuff that has to be done vertical access on rope. I've worked with their guys quite a bit; you should look them up if you're interested in that kinda thing.

uLiveAndYouBurn - No, I have never heard of Skyline Plunge. Our company is called OverTheEdge.

Abby Normal - Mines scare me for the simple fact that they are man made. I would definitely go in them though.. Looks to awesome to pass up. I just feel a lot safer in something that is millions of years old. There are tons of ocean-floor fossils in the caves around here.

Therrin - A lot of my friends work in the wind industry. As a Level 3 SPRAT technician you can make 50-60 bucks an hour. So that is definitely my ultimate goal! Right now I am just working for OTE in order to get on-rope hours towards the 500 required to become Level 2 SPRAT Tech.

nonconmat - I am very lucky to live where I do. I'm dropping 2 Pits this weekend.
Stephen's Gaphttp://www.google....Q&biw=1517&bih=741 will likely be the highlight.

The level 3's I was working with didn't make THAT much.

I'm sure there are SOME special positions where you could make more...


I had been looking at SPRAT. Apparently they will credit you with hours if you've been previously working or doing stuff with already built up professional experience.

Posted by Dat5un Mines scare me for the simple fact that they are man made.

That's funny. I have a friend who's scared of caves because they're natural, but not drains and sewers, because they're built/reinforced "and aren't going to collapse," or something along those lines. I haven't asked her about mines, though ...

Mines are man-made holes in the ground that are constantly trying to tear themselves apart.

This is true.


It doesn't however stop many hardrock mines from still being fully explorable while at the same time being 150 years old.

You will rarely find tools/clothes/bottles/paperwork/newspaper/explosives/machinery in caves.

So, along the lines of "urban exploring", mines are still pretty legit.



<3 mines

Stuff like this is pretty common where we explore. Most is less dangerous than this, some is worse.





A few UER members, including Therrin, have been there.

Abby Normal

I recently posted most of these on another thread, but I'll repost them here cuz it fits well

Mine's have vehicles in them!



How can you look at this and not just NEED to know what's at the bottom?



Or this and not just NEED to know what's further on down it?



Or this, and not be like "what is there that people haven't seen because this stopped them??"



Or getting held back by pansies who think the ceiling is going to collapse or some nonsense like that.


Except that it does sometimes, of course. But they make for good napping spots. And if you can find a way to climb around it, then it's pretty safe afterall isn't it??



Or be stopped by the people who complain about old explosives?? everyone knows there isn't any old dynamite left over anymore.



Or that one of your buddies won't crawl right over the top of you to try to keep from falling to their death.



Or that just because a ladder doesn't LOOK safe doesn't mean there isn't something really cool at the top or the bottom of it.



Or that just because a floor is missing altogether, doesn't mean that you can't find a way to clamber across and see what's on the other side.



As long as we think there's a CHANCE we can fit through something, we usually go for it.
















From these pictures, you can tell that those "stay out, stay alive" signs are just trying to keep you from having a really good time!!!


And if you do die, at least you'll do it doing something you enjoy!

Posted by Therrin And if you do die, at least you'll do it doing something you enjoy!

FREE BURIAL!!!!

Hey, I remember taking that photo! I think that was our first trip together and I thought you were crazy. But now I know we are both Abby Normal.

Yeah I borrowed liberally from our pictures for that post.

That was our first time meeting wasn't it? Amazing how time flies!

I *AM* pretty crazy, so you've got good personal intuition. <(")

Posted by Therrin Yeah I borrowed liberally from our pictures for that post. That was our first time meeting wasn't it? Amazing how time flies! I *AM* pretty crazy, so you've got good personal intuition. <(")

We've had some CRAZY fun times though! And more to come....

Abby Normal

One of these days I have to see you again and re-liberate alllll the stuff I've continuously left at your house over the last couple years. =P hahaha

It's like every time I drop by I leave more stuff. Pretty soon I'll just move in.

Wow. If I ever make it out that way I would absolutely love to check out a mine or two. Really cool looking places. If you guys every make it out this way I will definitely show you some of our beautiful vertical caves!

Posted by Dat5un Wow. If I ever make it out that way I would absolutely love to check out a mine or two. Really cool looking places. If you guys every make it out this way I will definitely show you some of our beautiful vertical caves!

Yeah, be sure to let us know if you head out this way. I'm sure we can round up a few explorers and head for the hills.

Abby Normal

Welcome, Dat5un!